Method for producing purified tea extract

Abstract

Provided is a method for producing a purified tea extract, which can satisfy both the yield of the non-polymer catechins and the removal rate of gallic acid at high levels. The method is characterized in that a tea extract, which contains an aqueous solution of an organic solvent, brought into contact with an anion exchange resin.

1 . A method for producing a purified tea extract, comprising contacting an anion exchange resin with a tea extract, which comprises an aqueous solution of an organic solvent. 
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the tea extract is subjected to tannase treatment. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein a concentration of the organic solvent in the aqueous solution is from 10 to 95 mass %. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the organic solvent is ethanol. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the anion exchange resin is exchanged with anionic groups derived from an organic acid having a pKa of from 4.16 to 8.55. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising contacting the tea extract with activated carbon after said tea extract has contacted the anion exchange resin. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the tea extract is a green tea extract. 
     
     
         8 . A purified tea extract obtained by the method according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein, upon said contacting comprises removing gallic acid ions present in said tea extract from said tea extract.